On Saturday I got an email from Ron Conklin, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, the association of retired cops, in Palm Coast. He said the association had scheduled a demonstration at Epic Theaters at 11 a.m. today protesting remarks about police by filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. “As you probably are aware of the remarks Mr. Tarantino made which received national media attention,” Conklin wrote, “he condemned all police as ‘murderers’!”

Actually I was not aware. I had been to the very demonstration in Washington Square Park in New York where Tarantino made his little speech on Oct. 24—my wife, son and I were walking by and it was worth stopping to take a few pictures and hear the chants—but I was too late to hear Tarantino. I’d heard that police were upset, but by the timing of the protest (an officer had recently been murdered in New York). I didn’t pay attention to Tarantino—didn’t even know he had a new movie out—until Conklin’s email.

Sure enough, a boycott movement among police unions and associations had grown since then against Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” a nearly three-hour movie now showing at Epic. It has nothing to do with cops or killings by cops. But cops wanted to punish Tarantino for what he’d said and his movie presented an easy target. If he’d called all police “murderers,” I’d want to boycott him, too.

But he said no such thing.

Here’s what he actually said: “Hey, everybody. I got something to say, but actually I would like to give my time to the families that want to talk. I want to give my time to the families. However I do just also want to say: What am I doing here? I’m doing here because I am a human being with a conscience, and when I see murder I cannot stand by, and I have to call the murdered the murdered and I have to call the murderers the murderers. Now I want to give my time to the families.”

The speech was quoted word for word by National Review, hardly a liberal organ, let alone an anti-cop one. And National Review’s Josh Gelernter was putting it bluntly: “Conservatives ought to support Tarantino — not because they like him or his movies, not because they agree with any of his political positions or because they are anti-police, but because Tarantino did not call policemen murderers.”

Not even close. He didn’t even imply it. What he said could have—and should have—just as easily been applauded by any reasonable cop. If he had in mind the eight cops charged with murder or attempted murder in a span of five months last year, then he wasn’t saying anything different than what the criminal justice system was saying in those cases: when cops kill without justification, they’re murderers like anyone else who kills without justification. The only difference is that cops had been getting away with murder almost with impunity until protests and the Black Lives Matter movement finally heightened awareness of the disproportionate killings of black men by police since that of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014. (In 2015, police fatally shot almost 1,000 people, 90 of them unarmed.)

Yet police groups across the country were mounting these silly protests against Tarantino, based on a lie, and drawing media attention for them—and of course away from the actual problem. As always, part of the blame rests with media: irresponsible news organizations have not only reported on the protests as if Tarantiono had called all cops murderers, but they’ve headlined advance notice of the protests while uncritically swallowing the police organizations’ willful deception. No need to look too far: here’s the Orlando Sentinel headline on Dec. 29: “Retired cops plan protest of Quentin Tarantino’s new film after comments calling police ‘murderers.’”

So Conklin was right when he told me this morning that, while he hadn’t read Tarantino’s speech word for word, he’d read the headlines. “I heard it, it’s been in the paper, it’s been on the news,” he said.

But when it comes to respecting evidence, I expect a little more from cops, even retired ones. I had printed Tarantino’s speech in full. I took it out and showed it to Conklin, even read it to him out loud.

He didn’t accept it. “That’s not what the newspapers and the TV say,” he said. This was the full quote, in context, I told him. “I wish you would have seen the other papers,” Conklin said, as if I was making stuff up. “All I know is what I heard and what everybody else heard. You can ask anybody else here. He said police are murderers. That was at the rally. Whether they soft-stroked it, whether he walked it back, I don’t know. Take it from what the newspapers are saying and what people are saying.”

No, Mr. Conklin: let’s take it from what Quentin Tarantino actually said. Conklin wouldn’t budge: “This is one newspaper’s opinion,” he said, pointing at Tarantino’s quote. I thought I’d been worm-holed into a story Kafka was writing from the grave, and not just because of Conklin’s aversion to evidence (a disturbing aversion for an ex-cop). Some thirty or so retired cops had lined up the sidewalk with small protest signs and an American flag. If the point of the protest was to dissuade moviegoers from seeing “The Hateful Eight,” they’d picked the wrong day and the wrong time: hardly anyone goes to the movies at midday in Palm Coast.

But they weren’t there to protest. They were there to pose for the cameras and perpetuate a lie at Tarantino’s expense. They were there to join up with the larger effort across the country by similar associations to pretend that police brutality doesn’t exist, cop shields are infallible, and those who cry foul are just anti-cop. (When I showed the Tarantino quote to another protester, who happened to be the treasurer of the local FOP, he too disputed the veracity of the quote, wondered why I was there if I wasn’t going to report on his protest, and finally said, unsurprisingly, “get out of my face.”)

Conklin won the day. At least four news organizations went through the motions of uncritically reporting the story as if what the ex-cops were claiming was true. There was no doubt that in that small crowd and in those “news” reports, blue lives mattered. Truth? Not so much.

43 Responses for “The Palm Coast Fraternal Order of Police Furthers a Lie in a Protest at Epic Theaters”

It seems safe to say that the multitude of retired police and their FOP need hearing aids, along with a large cup of hot chocolate to ease their non responsive minds from what was really said. The only thing that they are showing to society through their unjust demonstrations is that these protesting cops truly don’t or did not belong on the police force because they can not even understand the English language let alone know when not to shoot someone. Scary thought to know that these retired police that protest once protected our streets……or did they?

With all the bad press the cops in this country have received over the last 12 months, most of which was based on lies or attempts to protect “thugs”, I wish they’d all take a one month vacation at the same time and see what happens to all the folks constantly bitching about them.

There’s a difference between honorable men that protect our country and take pride in their uniform and then the bad eggs that use their position to get away with a bad call that cost a life. I come from a family of law enforcement and I’m terrified of the angry people out there that hate cops. But I also know that I’ve been treated like scum on the floor by officers when I did nothing wrong, just wrong place wrong time or caught the officer on a bad day.

Ahhhhh. . . a perfect example of the “twisted” age in which we live. . . one where actual facts and exact quotes do not matter. Even those assumed to be our most trusted, mature professionals are close minded, passionate lemmings to the sea of the all mighty media agenda’s and propaganda. “If it’s on TV or on the Internet, it must be true”. . . ignorance prevails, and sadly is shaping our world!

I see day in and day out the unnecessary shoot to kill of unharmed citizens some just barely teens. Why the teasers were invented? to prevent shoots to kill and even some bad cops abuse the teasers that overused without justification also can kill. I do have a high respect for our law enforcement and during my long life so far, I have even call for reinforcements and back ups when I have witnessed a cop being overpower by tugs or in danger while doing their work. I consider cops our armed guards defending us in spite that at least twice I had some unexpected unfair treatment by a no so good cop. But I took it like they are also human and can like or dislike an individual. Those couple of times of unfairness have proven to me that there are like in everything else good and bad cops. Thank God those couple of occasions were just very minor incidents and in the scale of justice the good cops outweigh the others in my mind. When I see cops on their patrols always moves me to smile and wanting to wave at them as a safety feeling takes me over. But I am fully aware that there are out there some bad cops and their are the least amount so far, but denying it is not the right solution.

Blondee obviously you are not aware of the history of policing in the United States. The two things “White Bread America” thinks makes them authentic is their vote and their guns. Justifiably or not get caught in the system and get a felony whether it’s violent or not whats the two things they take from you? Your right to vote and own a gun. No matter how long ago, no matter if non violent. That is and was the remedy for after slavery, segregation and now put a case or a (stigma) on your target and there is your boogeyman. So this idea one has the ability to be invisible to the police is sad commentary. Can’t wait when the shoe is on the other foot when no matter what you say or do you’ll still be labeled an ugly american in historic terms because of your forefathers past sins.

“Hey, everybody. I got something to say, but actually I would like to give my time to the families that want to talk. I want to give my time to the families. However I do just also want to say: What am I doing here? I’m doing here because I am a human being with a conscience, and when I see murder I cannot stand by, and I have to call the murdered the murdered and I have to call the murderers the murderers. Now I want to give my time to the families.”

So he says this at a Anti Police Rally and somehow it’s construed that police took it the wrong way? He wasn’t at a memorial for Ted Bundy victims.

I try to stay out of controversial conversations . therefore I will just say….people should thoroghly read up on articles before they start boycotting and fighting about it. The police are only human not machines…they get put in situations and they can make mistakes, freeze, or make a wrong decision. They sometimes are good and decent and sometimes some of them shouldn’t be police at all. Point is….there’s enough fighting on this earth…can’t we just live and let the courts and fcc or people in charge deal with these matters?

For some reason the band wagon goes on a joy ride now and a gain. Whether its because of guns being taken away, Obama health plan death squads… on and on. It’s a shame the message about black lives isn’t understood in it’s true context. Black lives matter ALSO! Murder is a heinous crime no matter who commits it. As LEO’s we should value and understand this and not use the “Fear for my life” as a cover from prosecution. LEO’s be safe and don’t be so sensitive.

It is very sad when some media report inaccurate information and very sad when shown, the facts some people get defensive. Thank you Pierre for standing with the truth. My hope is that these retired police officers will do their own research and admit their error. Will I stand with a police officer, when they are correct, you bet, will I speak out against a police officer when they aren’t correct, you bet, and we should all do the same, police officers included.

He could have said it at an anti Obama rally. It doesn’t matter. His point is direct to all who murder and that they are all murderers who murder and that all who have been murdered are murdered. Quite simple. It doesn’t speculate Obama being murdered or a murderer. Clear your thoughts and set yourself free.

Gotta go with Pierre on this one. Seems like ex-police would carefully collect and review the evidence, then deal with the facts. But, when you have a preconceived political agenda, forget the facts. Go with emotion and bias with touches of demagoguery and hyperbole.

Pierre you are 100% right. Facts don’t matter to these guys. They here what they want to hear, say what they want to say . Similarly how facts don’t seem to matter to you. You make the statement “The only difference is that cops had been getting away with murder almost with impunity until protests and the Black Lives Matter movement finally heightened awareness of the disproportionate killings of black men by police since that of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014. (In 2015, police fatally shot almost 1,000 people, 90 of them unarmed.)”. Why are they disproportional? Why is that information always left out? Why are the marches not done for all the “disproportionate” killings of innocent African Americans regardless of who the murderers are (police or not police)? My opinion is it’s ignored because it does not fit the race baiting, liberal narrative. This race baiting is what is fueling an ass like Trump’s popularity. People are tired of the BS from both sides of the aisle.

What’s the difference when people protest in Chicago shutting down retailers (who keep people employed) that said nothing against anyone. The protesters wanted attention to their cause and that’s the bottom line. Pierre, deal with it as best you can but be both truthful and fair. Also being charged with murder is different than being convicted of murder, although I can’t argue that some are will be found guilty.

Police are just regular people with a badge. They make mistakes and are imperfect. Some even do drugs all there lives and then die of heart failure due to this and then they even get a street name after them. Sound familiar? This sounds like a bunch of old hypocrites with just time on their hands and nothing better to do.

Tarantino was at a protest with people that have called for the murder of Police Officer,(pigs in a blanket) that is enough to boycott his violent crappy films. Black lives matter is a racist hate group.

But yet the movies hateful dialogue goes unchecked. Gee as a person of mixed race who has seen this trash I find his script lacking ant substance of entertainment unless of coursethe constant use of the word Nigger is the norm for the left. Please Don’t my use ifnit either edit it either I mean if Tarantino a caucasion itailan feels it’s OK to use it often & more times than I choose to count in a two hour crap movie and then it must be acceptable for all of the rest of us even you white folks.

Typical “anti-police” attitudes here in Palm Coast. I really don’t give a crap one way or the other about their protest. Tarantino is a complete moron anyways. His movies are nothing but disgusting violence. Personally, I would walk with the retired cops on this one !!!

Blondee, please do enlighten? Is this your quote “People behaving and obeying the laws so the police have no reason to even interact with them.” If so, there is nice article in one of our local papers of a black mother explaining how her son was detained by deputies minimum of four, while walking through their neighborhood of Grand Landings all because a supposed homeowner didn’t think he looked liked like he belonged in the neighborhood. That young man didn’t ask for that interaction. Just the same as that homeowner saw him as a threat law enforcement would have said the same if he would have ended up dead due to no fault of his own. But many get so used to hearing “I feared for my life” or “I saw an invisible gun” or “I thought the public was at risk”. Good cops need to police bad cops too end of story.

You would think with cell phones everywhere that Tarantino’s speech was video taped. Maybe the actual video of the speech would shut the mouths of protesters. I wish the Orlando Sentinal was not pay protected because it would be nice to read the actual article referenced here.

@blondee I agree that “Walk the Talk” seems to be misconstruing your comment, but he/she definitely is correct in that the “be invisible to police” philosophy you propose is an incorrect suggestion.

Should we obey the laws? YES! Should we be polite to police and follow their directives? YES!

Is that enough? No, and that’s the problem.

You implicitly suggest that all instances of police shootings have the citizen in the wrong. Yes, if a person is walking in the middle of the road, and instead of moving over when requested, he punches the police office, bad things will happen. HOWEVER, if a father is in Wal-mart and picks up a pellet gun for his son as he’s on his cellphone with his dad, and police shouldn’t shoot him in the back with no verbal warning, that should be considered murder. What did John Crawford III do wrong? Is buying an air-rifle at Wal-Mart a capitol offense? Does that warrant getting shot in the back while calmly walking the store aisle? According to the grand jury for the case, buying an air-rifle in a store in an open-carry state grants police the right to kill an individual. I, and others, find that disturbing.

There are other examples as well. Garner: Is it a capital offense to resell cigarettes (even for the 100th time)? Scott: Is a non-functioning break light a capitol offense? Ferrell: Should a person be shot and killed simply for getting in a car accident, asking for help, then approaching police when they respond? Rice: Is it right for a 12-year old boy to be mortally wounded 2 seconds after police start yelling at him?

In the cases of Crawford, Garner, and Rice, the officers weren’t even indicted. In the case of Ferrell, the officer was indicted and tried, but after the first trial resulted in a hung jury, the prosecutor is unwilling to retry the case; in other words, the prosecutor did the minimum amount and refuses to see the case through to a verdict. Of the above listed cases, the only instance where the officers haven’t been allowed to go free is the Scott case, which has as trial date of October 2016.

Is it a good idea for, “People [behave] and [obey] the laws so the police have no reason to even interact with them.” Yes. Is that enough to prevent police from killing those same people? NO! That’s when police (maybe half-a-dozen of the 3/4 million officers … less than 1/1000 of a percent) should be called murders. Unfortunately, those very few individuals typically aren’t even prosecuted. That’s why there are calls to change the “blue-shield” mentality. See FL’s own article: https://flaglerlive.com/70132/police-deadly-force-florida/

Ok, Tarantino has stated that he did not say (nor mean) that ALL police officers were murderers. So, which ones are murderers? Those who have been convicted? That (and only THAT) is in keeping with our legal traditions, but he was in fact discussing officers who either have not been convicted or whom were not even charged with a crime. That means they are NOT murderers. He also stated that police officers should stop shooting unarmed people. Whatever he said, his own family, which includes cops, were not happy with him. Here is a flash for QT, there have been over 2500 police officers killed since 2000. About 10 percent killed by unarmed people who took their weapons from them (about 250 who took his ‘advice’ and died for their trouble). Still more were killed by fists/kicks/etc. Police officers on the street have to make split second decisions which are, really, more reaction than decision. The do this in the dark, often with their own lives and the lives of other innocent people in the balance. Police officers handle millions of situations on a yearly basis, and unfortunately end up taking lives in some cases (hundreds, perhaps as many as a thousand, a year). The decisions they make in the blink of an eye are discected by lawyers, judges, the press and the public. All of which benefit from the fact that they have more facts and hours, weeks, YEARs, to reach a decision. That officer, acting in extremis had the blink of an eye with his life often on the line, has that eyeblink of time and it is all over, one way or the other. Police officers DO make mistakes, they are human (believe it or not). While they may mistakenly kill 20 or 30 people a year (possibly a lot less), Medical Doctors kill HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS with their mistakes (check it out- I was shocked). Are they murderers or are they people trying to do good who cannot get every decision right? Doctors get decades of training, usually have some time to decide, and seldom have their own lives at risk, yet they make mistakes which end in loss of life. Police officers have months of training, seconds to decide and their own lives on the line. I understand why the retired police officers at the FOP are not happy with QT. He did imply that legally innocent police officers were murderers.

First, I agree with the point that he just called murdering people, whoever they are, murderers. I don’t have a problem with that. However, you have to examine the setting in which he said it: at a Black Lives Matter rally. This is a group guilty of the biggest lie of them all: “hands up don’t shoot!” Michael Brown, an outstanding cuddly teddy bear did not in fact have his hands up when he was shot but was in the process of conducting his fourth crime in twenty minutes. There didn’t seem to be any effort on the left to correct this lie in spite of the fact that it was Obama’s black attorney general who reached that conclusion. So, while technically he did not call all cops murderers, the very fact that he was speaking to a crowd that believes such makes it the same as actually calling the cops killers, particularly when dealing with people who don’t seem too keen on distinguishing facts from fiction.

There was a time when the police were called Peace Officers and we, the public, were called citizens. Most officers never once had to draw a weapon in their entire career. Over the years policing has become extremely military in dealing with the public who they now refer to as civilians.The police mentality now is it’s us against them,and sadly the citizens now feel the same about law officers. Yes,the police have dangerous and stressful job,but they knew that going in. For years all they had to do to justify shooting an unarmed citizen was to claim the perp was trying to run them over. Over the course of my life I owned three bars and heard many horror stories from fellow bar owners about police brutality responding to a disturbance at their bars. The policy that I maintained at my bars was never call the police unless you see a weapon. Never had a problem.

I saw it on the internet… it must be true. Trump keeps spewing lies about thousands of Muslims celebrating after the 9/11 attacks, but no such evidence has come to light… but people still believe it, because someone said it on the news or on the internet. Open your eyes people!!!!

I am retired LEO and a member of the FOP. I totally disagree with their thinking and protest. Someone will always scrutinize and interpret what some says or writes with negative connotation no matter what the true intentions were. Hell people are going to disagree with me. I have always been opposed to painting with a broad brush so I will say this Good COPs suffer at the hands of the BAD ones because the public and media paint with that broad brush. I believe that “all lives matter.” I also believe there are just as many bad COPs who are people of color. I am fascinated that no media outlet has reviewed those statistics, and if they have, why aren’t they being published. ALL BAD COPS NEED TO BE WEEDED OUT OF OUR NOBALE PROFESSION!

In regards to the movie, my wife and I went to watch it. It was a typical bloody Tarantino movie. For all of you protesters, I will say this, Tarantino had an opportunity to show he did not like COPs in the movie. Samuel L. Jackson (A man of Color) killed many people in the movie, but not Walter Goggins, the Sheriff elect in the movie, who is white. The two lived and partnered together. I believe if he didn’t like LEO, he would have had the Sheriff taken out as well.

Mr. Conklin, please rally your members and spend your money on a more worthy cause. Put food on the table of a hungry person. Give shelter to a homeless family. Tutor a struggling student. But don’t waste anyone’s time with your foolish politics.

Pierre defends Quentin Tarentino – no surprise here. Here is a quote from Pierre in his November 1 2015 article titled “America’s Pious Embrace of the Police State” – “for the past year we’ve been exposed to serial killings of black men at the hands of police in situation after situation that begs as many questions as outrage.” Serial killings? Really? Investigation of the details and facts in “situation after situation” will reveal that in an overwhelming majority of these incidents the “victim” challenged, confronted, resisted, or threatened the officer in some manner . And then there is Pierre’s article of December 7 2015 titled “Cops Get Away with Murder Because They Can – It’s America In Black and White”. With a title like this, no quote from the article is required. To my knowledge, no law enforcement agency or police department have held a “no justice, no peace” rally, yet the police have far greater grounds for racial complaint than say, Black Lives Matter; Nationally, blacks made up 60% of all cop killers from 2000 to 2012, even though they are only 13.5% of the American population. This fact is not allowed in polite company, however, because race-baiting is tolerated in only one direction. The fact is, justified police shootings constitute only a minute fraction-and unjustified police shootings an almost imperceptible fraction-of homicides of blacks, virtually all of which are committed by other blacks. Thank you very much for your consideration of this opposing point of view.

Retired said: “In regards to the movie, my wife and I went to watch it. It was a typical bloody Tarantino movie. For all of you protesters, I will say this, Tarantino had an opportunity to show he did not like COPs in the movie. Samuel L. Jackson (A man of Color) killed many people in the movie, but not Walter Goggins, the Sheriff elect in the movie, who is white. The two lived and partnered together. I believe if he didn’t like LEO, he would have had the Sheriff taken out as well”.

I’m having a hard time comprehending this thought process where you have construed fiction and nonfiction. Because a characters non demise wasn’t part of a story line that means something? It’s a story nothing more.

@blondee…aaaaand what is YOUR point, exactly? How many times have you felt law enforcement officers misinterpret your body language, actions, or remarks while you were, in your mind, obeying the strictest letter of the law? Better yet, have you ever felt like you were treated unfairly in any situation? Have you ever wondered if your age, gender, or physique or any SUBJECTIVE aspects played a role in how a relative stranger judged… or shall I say, determined their first/split second impression of you? If you have the benefit of having walked through life knowing you 100% benefited from the golden rule 100% of the time (with the assumption you treat others the way you feel you & everyone else should be treated).. well, then I can totally understand you without you needing to answer these questions. You are the exception by far and I want to emulate you. PLEASE write down your tactics for having fully evaded such treatment your entire life and let me and a lot of others know what your full-proof way of life’s secrets to success are. I will purchase a copy of your guide.

.. there are times I have felt in my professional dealings my age, gender, and stature in and of itself led to interactions going in a direction I could have never anticipated AND in an attempt to be objective, I’ve measured/analyzed the situation & questioned myself… did I do everything I possibly could to communicate my purpose for the interaction in which I was so not received the way I intended?…did I do everything in my power to avoid being treated in a manner that was the absolute complete opposite of my goal- …I’ve found my heartfelt answer in these scenarios to be an unwavering YES. Therefore, I have speculated… could such unwanted reactions be some sort of bias? Bias based in reality and NOT “bait”, or a fragment of my imagination, or some pathetic excuse, or need to feel validated…POSSIBLY. Having only known what it POTENTIALLY feels like to be completely misunderstood by an authoritative figure or institution for reasons beyond my control… well, it hurts, even to this day. If someone beat, maimed, or shot your dog, kid, family member- someone you loved… would your first reaction be… wrong place, wrong time, &/or most likely he or she did something to warrant AND deserve it?

If your answer to this final question is yes, then again, no need to further explain your point. You live by a code which is yours to own and I respect it as such. It is also one you can further validate some day in the future on a celestial judgement ground, should such a field exist. If you find it in your heart to see you would want some earthly justice or the opportunity to be heard on behalf of those you love, I would respectfully ask you to afford the same.

Police are safer than ever on the job. There are far more dangerous professions out there to be employed in. Police will not regain the respect they once had until they start policing themselves. How many officers in chicago signed sworn reports stating the man in the middle of the road was a threat and moving towards the officers? If that video had not been released there would be no reason to doubt their story. As it is the officers who are clearly lying will never be reprimanded and the public will never again be able to trust the police. Until the thin blue wall comes tumbling down and citizen review boards are in place to look at every single complaint filed, the police can most certainly expect to be seen as an enemy by a large number of people.

You think they did? You say you’ve owned three bars…I’m sure the first held many surprises you did not imagine. Same with starting out as a law enforcement officer..sure you hear stories if you know someone on the job but not a single one really knows what they’re getting into and many don’t make it through the training phases and either quit or are let go. The reality is that really they don’t know going in until it becomes real hands on for them. The academy can teach a lot but until a cop is on his or her own doing the actual job, they just don’t know. Fortunately there are many who stick it out and do not quit. Especially these days when the cards are stacked against them right out of the gate.